Air quality in Jodhpur

What is the air quality index of Jodhpur?

Jodhpur is the second-largest city in the Indian state of Rajasthan. It is a popular tourist destination for both domestic and international travellers. It features many temples, palaces and forts and sits at the edge of the stark Thar Desert. It is affectionately known as “The Blue City” throughout most of the vast sub-continent.

At the beginning of 2021, Jodhpur was experiencing a period of “Moderate” air quality with a US AQI reading of 91. The recorded level of PM2.5 was 31.2 µg/m³.

With levels such as these, it is advisable to close doors and windows to prevent the ingress of dirty air. Those of a sensitive disposition should avoid venturing outside until the air quality improves. If this is unavoidable, then a good quality mask should be worn at all times.

What is the main source of air pollution in Jodhpur?

The northern part of India, adjoining the Himalaya, is considered one of the global hotspots of pollution because of various natural and anthropogenic factors. It is difficult to say where the polluted air originates as it differs depending on the time of year. Dust, biomass burning, industrial and vehicular pollution are the main causes. These have a direct impact on air quality and the health of the millions of people who live in the Indo-Gangetic Plains region. This area is particularly prone to dust storms blown in from the Thar Desert.

In May 2018, three back to back major dust storms occurred that caused massive damage, loss of human lives, damage to property, and had an impact on air quality and human health.

What is the pollution level in Jodhpur?

Jodhpur is nearly always included in the list of the most polluted cities of the country. Here PM10 and PM2.5 measure the level of pollution in the air from dust particles. Apart from these two, pollution levels are also being measured in sulphur oxides (SO_x) and nitrous oxides (NO_x) in Jodhpur. The level of pollution from sulphur, exhaust emissions are checked, but the lockdown (due to COVID-19) has reduced the level of pollution in the air. Monitoring equipment is installed at 10 different places in Jodhpur to check the level of pollution. The data from the machine installed in the city centre Pavata recorded a decrease in air pollution. The reason is that there has been a tremendous reduction in the number of vehicles on the roads and industries are also almost closed. In such a situation, the data of the pollution department showed that the air of Jodhpur is being purified.

An officer with the pollution control board attributed the sharp increase in pollution to dust and to vehicular emissions. The recorded levels of PM10 and PM2.5 were 189 and 101 µg/m³respectively.

Jaipur has suffered from the smog of crop residue smoke last year. During the burning of crop residue in the plains of the Ganges, an increase in PM2.5 level had been observed in the cities of Rajasthan. Smog also occurred in Jaipur and Jodhpur that year. For example, on 9^th November, the PM2.5 level in Delhi was 520 micrograms per cubic meter while in Jaipur on 10^th November, 211 micrograms per cubic meter were recorded. At the same time, 156 micrograms per cubic meter were recorded on 11^th November in Jodhpur. These new emerging trends have yet to be investigated.

An analysis noted that Jaipur's annual average PM2.5 level needs to be reduced by 23 per cent to bring it on par with national air quality standards. Whereas in Jodhpur 54 per cent, Bhiwadi 64 per cent, Pali will have to be reduced by 34 per cent and 16 per cent. This assessment calls for drastic action. In the new Lancet 2020 report, the cost of health due to air pollution is 1.36 per cent of the GDP for the country while for Rajasthan it is 1.70 per cent of the state's GDP more than the national level.

What can be done to improve the air quality in Jodhpur?

Following directives from the National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Rajasthan Pollution Board has taken steps to improve the air quality in five large cities, Jodhpur being one of them. The department of transport has been given the task of reducing vehicle movement in the city. The sweeping of roads with water will be made compulsory in order to reduce rising dust particles. The use of brick kilns will be banned unless they are fitted with the latest technology with regards to control of emissions.

What are the effects of breathing Jodhpur’s poor quality air?

Air and water are two very important necessities for living on earth. Life on earth is only possible with these two. At the same time, there is 70 per cent water in the human body, and due to air, a person can breathe. If a person does not get air for a minute, he can die. Through which they can understand what the importance of air for our life is. But it is also important for the air to be clean, if people are exposed to highly polluted air over a long period of time, it will affect their health.

The WHO estimates that about seven million people die each year from exposure to fine particles PM2.5 in polluted air that penetrate deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system, causing a stroke, heart disease, lung cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases.

Air pollution is the second largest cause of premature deaths in Rajasthan. This cost of health in the state is equal to 70 per cent of the state's GDP due to air pollution, which is much higher than the country's 1.36 per cent. If the concentration of air pollution is low, life expectancy in Rajasthan may increase by 2.5 years.

Real-time data on air pollution quality suggest that during the winter of 2020 in Jaipur, the number of days with PM2.5 pollution in the poor category on the air quality index (AQI) had doubled.

How can people protect themselves from the dirty air in Jodhpur?

Avoid outdoor activity if air pollution is reported as being high. If exercise was the reason for going outside, consider going to the local shopping mall instead and walking through their air-conditioned concourse.

Compulsory development of green belts should be done around canal routes and rail lines. Full maintenance and record of trees should be maintained by planting them regularly. Wherever space is available around buildings, trees should be planted.